My disciples are all villains.

Longevity pills. As their name suggested, they were pills that could extend a person's life. It was rumored that they were made from extremely rare materials and were created by powerful cultivators via a meticulous process in a harsh environment.

Even the Core Heart Sect that specialized in refining pills only managed to refine a handful of longevity pills in the millennium.

Some cultivation sects established themselves in the cultivation world by making such pills.

A single longevity pill could extend a person's life by 100 years. However, the effects would deteriorate the older the user became. Hence, even longevity pills could not help cultivators overcome the 1,000-year limit. Regardless, longevity pills were still highly sought after by many cultivators. After all, not every cultivator could actually live to their life limit.

"Bring it here." Lu Zhou's voice was commanding and deep.

Li Yunzhao passed the brocade box to Mingshi Yin who carefully received it and placed it on the table before his master. When he saw that his master was resting his spirits with his eyes closed, he did not dare to disturb him.

"I'll take my leave." Li Yunzhao's assignment was completed. He left the eastern pavilion.

"I'll take my leave as well, master," Mingshi Yin said before he respectfully left the room.

Outside the eastern pavilion, Mingshi Yin pulled Li Yunzhao and said, "Hey, hey… Eunuch Li, wait up."

Li Yunzhao frowned. "Hm?"

"Uh, please… Eunuch Li, do you have any more of that longevity pill?" Mingshi Yin asked once he caught up with Li Yunzhao.

Li Yunzhao shook his head and said, "What are you talking about? Longevity pills aren't sold in the store, you know? There are no extras. That was the only one. Even then, it was left behind by the late emperor after searching far and wide across the lands. The Empress Dowager has refrained from consuming it all this time. If it had been anybody else, it would've been long gone."

Mingshi Yin said helplessly, "Alright… However, I think you're a great person. My master has searched for longevity pills before as well. Alas, only one was found."

Li Yunzhao smiled and said, "Old Mister has helped us greatly. It's only natural to thank him in kind."

Mingshi Yin nodded and said, "You're good with words as well… Alright, enough of this chatter. I'm feeling sleepy…" He stretched his limbs and walked toward the southern pavilion.

…

Lu Zhou opened his eyes slowly. He looked at the brocade box before his eyes. He shook his head and sighed. 'Why would I need this?'

He waved his hand slightly and the brocade box opened with a click.

"Ding! Obtained longevity pill x 1. Can be refined again to raise its quality."

When Lu Zhou heard this notification, he was slightly surprised. He did not expect that the longevity pill could be refined. He placed the longevity pill in his hand. When it touched his skin, a warmth immediately spread across his palm. It was an exceptionally wonderful sensation.

"Its quality and purity are acceptable, the energy as well…" Lu Zhou appraised the quality of the longevity pill.

Although he was not an expert in refining pills, he knew many things about it. From his memories, he knew Ji Tiandao had searched for the pills many times. He had some rough understandings about anything that had to do with prolonging his life.

The problem was…

'Even if the quality is raised, it won't have any effect on me, right?'

He could hear the Reversal Cards saying that even the highest grade of longevity pills was nothing. He gave it some thought. Although he did not have any need for it, he could still keep it for his disciples.

He raised his hand. A Refining Talisman appeared before it combusted.

Lu Zhou did not seem to hesitate when he tossed the pill into the fire.

A short while later, he had completed the refining process.

"Ding! Obtained a high-grade longevity pill. Reward: 500 merit points."

'A Refining Talisman for 500 points. That's not too bad.'

A high-grade longevity pill could extend a person's life by 200 years. The caveat was that said person's great limit was not within the next 200 years. Otherwise, the longevity pill would not have much of an effect.

In other words, it would have been a waste if Lu Zhou consumed it.

He put the pill away and entered his Heavenly Writing meditation state.

…

Night fell. The skies were dotted with stars.

A black figure could be seen shooting toward the southern pavilion.

The feet of the black figure did not touch the ground. His movement was silent.

The door of the room easily opened, as though it was pushed open by a gentle breeze.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

A cold light flashed for a moment before eerie energy blades stabbed into the bed.

The black figure immediately realized that the bed was not occupied. He retreated as quickly as he could. Then, he heard a voice from above.

"Comrade, you're late… Mind joining me up here to watch the moon?"

The black figure looked up. He decided to give up there and then. He turned around and vanished.

Jiang Aijian, who was sitting on the roof, could not help but feel slightly taken aback. "So fast?"

The black figure moved away from the area, shooting past the corridor and a plaza. Just as he was about to leave the southern pavilion, a mocking voice rang from above him.

"Hey, there, where are you going in the dead of night?"

The black figure looked up and saw Mingshi Yin hanging upside down on the thick beam of the entrance. He was hanging between the words 'southern pavilion'.

The black figure was not nervous. He changed directions decisively. With a leap, he made his way to the western pavilion. He could only reach the northern pavilion from the western pavilion. From the northern pavilion, he could go down the mountain. He did not fly. He stuck to the ground, rooftops, and the various buildings. His movements were nimble and swift.

He had just entered the western pavilion when he smelled the aromatic scent of booze.

"Who's there? Come, join me for a drink…"

The black figure frowned. He changed direction again.

There were four pavilions. The eastern pavilion was out of the question since the old villain was there. However, he had no way to get to the northern pavilion. After mulling it over, he leaped into the air and decisively flew toward the northern pavilion. However, as he flew, he realized something was amiss. 'Why aren't they giving chase?'

The thought had just appeared in his mind when a yellow-feathered arrow sailed across the sky like a meteor.

Boom!

The black figure caught it with one hand and somersaulted in the air.

Then, about ten more energy arrows came at him!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

They resembled a fireworks display.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The black figure moved nimbly and tried to avoid the incoming attacks. He dodged the energy arrows as he dove down and landed near the northern pavilion.

A hoarse voice reached his ears. "How does it feel to be surrounded."

'Hm?' The black figure saw another black figure facing him with his back.

Then, the figure turned around slowly. The moonlight shone on the person's face. He wore a silver mask.

Leng Luo's hoarse voice rang in the air. "Li Yunzhao warned you not to act recklessly…"

"I had no choice," the black figure replied.

"Even I have to abide by the rules here, let alone you. Do you think that you'll do better than me?" Leng Luo's tone was calm, but every single word struck home.

The black figure said, "I know it's difficult…"

"Even if it means death?"

"Death?" The black figure lowered himself slowly. "That's too early to say."

Whoosh!

A black mist appeared and the black figure vanished.

Whizz!

A huge avatar that was 100 feet tall suddenly materialized before Leng Luo. Energy spilled into his surroundings.

Boom!

The avatar shrunk at an extreme speed.

"Dao Invisibility of the Other Tribes?"

Leng Luo cultivated Dao Invisibility himself. He knew what this skill meant. Hence, before the black figure disappeared, he used the instant burst of energy to attack his surroundings.

It was now quiet.

At this moment, Jiang Aijian and the others arrived. Pan Litian sauntered over as well.

"Old Leng, can you handle this or what?" Pan Litian asked lazily.

Hua Yuexing hovered in midair. The energy bow in her hand vanished.

Jiang Aijian said, "No way… a person of the same trade? Ptooey… we're not of the same trade. I mean, he got away?"

Mingshi Yin spread his arms. "You guys had to insist on a game of catching the mice and bet on the direction he would take… Happy now?"